Manufacture of golf balls and the like



E. MILLER Oct. 7, 1941 MANUFACTURE OF GOLF BALLS AND THE LIKE Filed e t-'25, 195v wws/vran ELL/s )V LLER Br V Z flrra fivsxl Patented Oct. 7, 1941 Ellis Miller, Brussels, Belgium Application September 25, 1937, Serial No. 165,641 In Great Britain September 8, 1937 11 Claims. (craze-s2) In'the manufacture of a modern golf ball a a suitable fluid is usually enclosed his small rubber sack, which is wound around with rubber,

thread or tape, under tension, to the required size and afterwardsenclosed in a gutta percha or like cover which is vulcanized in position.

The object of the present invention is to prov vide an improved golf or like ball which will have great steadiness both in flight and when rolling on the ground, for which purpose, and in accordance with this invention the fluid with which the sack is filled is mercury. Preferably the sack, which may be 01' rubber or other suitable material, is enclosed first in a layer of rubber, then in a layer consisting of a mixture of granulated cork, preferably parafiln treated, rubber and kauri resin, then in a layer consisting of a mixture of rubber, granulated nickel and kauri resin, and

core being disposed centrally therein. and the diameter of the core is thus broughtup to 26 1 m. m., after which it is wound with rubber thread the core thus produced is afterwards wound and covered in the usual manner.

The layer of granulated cork and kauri resin preferably consists of finely granulated cork the surface of which is impregnated with paraflin wax, rubber andasmall quantity or kauri resin to serve as a binder. This acts as a cushion around the mercury filled sack. The layer of rubber, granulated nickel and kaurl resin is preferably prepared by heating a mixture of rubber and kauri resin to about 130 (1., adding granulated pure nickel and stirring the mixture which is then applied by means of a suitable mould.

' One form of golf ball made according to the present invention is illustrated by the accompany ing drawing which is a central section.

a is a rubber sack 0.75 m. m. thick and we hing 0.2 grammes, which is charged with 3 grammes of mercury b, diameter'LS m. m., and tied in the usual manner, the mean diameter of the filled and tied sack being 9 m. m. This sack is enclosed in a layer 0 0! rubber which is 0.5 m, m. thick and weighs 0.5 grammes. The core, so far made, is then enclosed in a layer 11 of finely granulated 'cork superficially impregnated with parator tape 1 and covered, as at g, in the usual manner.

It is to be understoodthat the proportions oi.

the materials employed in the respective layers and the thickness of the layers may be varied according to requirements.

Iclalm: T

' 1. A ball having a central core consisting of a globule of metallic mercury restrained from shifting outside of the geometrical center of the ball and acting to flx within it and thereby stabilize the centroid of the ball, and, wherein the mercury globule is contained in a flexible hollow member which is surrounded by successive layers of (a) rubber, (b) a mixture of granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, (c) a mixture of rubber, granulated nickel and kaurl resin, ((1) strip rubber wound under tension and (e) gutta percha constituting an outer cover, and, in which the weight of mercury is 2.8 grams, the weight of the hollow member for the mercury is 0.6 grams, the weight or the mixture of granulated cork, rubber.

and kauri resin is 2.4 grams, and the weight of the mixture of rubber, granulated nickel and kauri resin is 10 grams.

2. A golf ball having a substantially spherical central core portion of higher specific gravity than the average specific gravity of the ball and comprising a hollow container member of resilient material, and a bcdy of metallic mercury substantially completely filling said container member, said body or" mercury being relatively immovable within the container and'acting to fix fin wax, mixed with rubber and a small quantity of kauri resin as a binder and heated toiuse the V kauri resin; this layer dis 4 m. m. thick and weighs 2 grammes, bringing up the diameter of the core to 18 m. m. then enclowd in a layer e consisting ofrubber,

\ granulated pure nickel and a small quantity of The core, so far made, is W The mixture is applied by means of a mould, the" 55 and stabilize the centroid of the ball during normal flight, said container being positioned at the exact center of the ball, and the weight 01 the mercury being less than 10% of the total weight of the ball, and, in whichthe flexible member is surrounded by a layer or rubber and then by a layer consisting of a mixture of granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, the granulated cork being -treated.

3. A golf ball having a substantially spherical central core portion or higher specific gravity than the average specific gravity or the ball and comprising a hollow container member or resilient material, and a body or metallic mercury substantially completely filling said container member, said body of mercury being relatively immovable within the container and acting to fix and stabilize thecentroid or the ball during normal flight, container being positioned at the exact center or the ball, and theweight of the mercury being less than 10% or the total weight the ball, and, in which the flexible member is surrounded, successively, by a layer of rubber, a layer constituted of a mixture of granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, and a layer constituted of a mixture or. rubber, resin.

4. A goli' ball having a substantially spherical central core portion oi higher specific gravity granulated nickel and kauri resin, a layer constituted oi a mixture of rubber, granulated nickel and kauri resin, a strip of rubber wound under tension, and an outer cover constituted 01' gutta percha.-

8. A ball having a substantially spherical core portion comprislnga hollow'flexibie member of resilient material and a body of metallic fluid completely fllling and trapped within said flexible member at the exact center of the ball, the

than the average specific'gravity oi the ball and comprising a hollow container member or re- 'silient material, and a body of metallic mercury substantially completely filling said container member, said body of mercury being relatively immovable within the container and acting tom: and stabilize the centroid of the ball duringnormal flight, said container being positioned at the exact center of the ball, and the weight of the mercury being less than 10% or the total weight oi the ball, and, in which the flexible member is surrounded successively by a layer or rubber, a layer constituted 01' a mixture 01' granulated cork,

rubber and kauri resin, a layerconstituted or a mixture or rubber, granulated nickel and kauri resin, a strip of rubber wound under tension, and

an outer cover constituted of gutta percha.

5. A ball having a substantially spherical core portion comprisinga hollow flexible member of resilient material and a body of metallic mer-.

cury completely fllling the interior of said member and positioned at the exact center of the .ball, the diameter of the flexible member containing' the mercury being substantially less than mercury being substantially less than one-third the diameter of the ball, and in which the flexible f member is surrounded, successively, by a I layer 01 rubber, alayer constituted of a mixture 01 granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, and

a layer constitntedoi a mixture of rubber, granulatednickel and kauri resin.

'1. A ball a substantially spherical core portion comprising a hollow flexible member cl. resilient material and a body of metallic ,mer-

cury completely filling the interior or said member and positioned at the exact center of the ball, the diameter of the flexible member containing the mercury being substantially less than one-third" the diameter of the ball, and in which the flexible member is surrounded successively by a layer of rubber, a layer constituted oi! a- Y mixture 01' granulated cork, rubber and kauri specific gravity of the trapped fluid being greatly in excess 01' the average specific gravity or the ball, said metallic fluid acting to keep the center of gravity or the ball during flight and roll or the ball at the geometrical center thereof, and in which the flexible member is surrounded by a layer of rubber and then by a layer consisting 01' a mixture of granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, the granulated cork being paraflin-treated.

9. A ball having a substantially spherical core portion comprising a hollow flexiblemember of resilient material and a bodyoi metallic fluid completely filling and trapped within said flexible member at the exact center of the ball, the speciflc gravity 0! the trapped fluid being greatly in excess or the average specific gravity or the ball,

. said'metallic fluid acting to keep the center or gravity oi' the ball during flight and roll of the ball at the geometrical center thereof, and in which the flexible member is surrounded, successively, by a layer of rubber, a layer constituted of a mixture of granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, and a layer constituted of a mixture of rubber, granulated nickel and kauri resin.

' 10. A ball having a substantially spherical core portion comprising a hollow flexible member of resilient material and a; body of metallic fluid completely filling and trapped within said flexible member at the exact center of the .ball, the speciflc gravity of the trapped fluid being greatly in excess 01' the average specific gravity of the ball, said metallic fluid acting to keep the center of gravity of the ball during flightand roll of the ball at the geometrical center thereof, and' in which the flexible member is surrounded successively by a layer of rubber, a layer constituted of a mixture of granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, a layer constitutedoi a mixture or rubber,

granulated nickel and kauri resin, a strip 01' rubber wound under tension and an outer cover constituted of gutta percha.

11. A ball having a central coreconsisting of a globule of metallic mercury restrained from shifting outside of the geometrical center of the ball andacting to fix. within it and thereby sta- 'bilize the centroid of the bail, and wherein the 4 mercury globule is contained in a-flexible hollow member which is surrounded by successive layers or (a) rubber, (bl a mixture or granulated cork, rubber and kauri resin, (c) a mixture of rubber,

granulated nickel and kauri resin, (d) strip rubber wound under tension and (e) gutta percha constituting an'outer cover.

, ELLIS MIILER. 

